Tributes to former Express sports editor found dead at 33

Liam Chronnell, originally from Poynton, had been working as a sports journalist and sub-editor at the Bolton News, but previously worked at Macclesfield, the Wilmslow Express, the Salford Advertiser and the Stockport Express.

Tributes have been paid to a former Macclesfield Express sports editor who has died suddenly aged 33.

Liam Chronnell, originally from Poynton, had been working as a sports journalist and sub-editor at the Bolton News, but previously worked at Macclesfield, the Wilmslow Express, the Salford Advertiser and the Stockport Express.

He was found at his home in Whalley Range, Manchester, on Sunday morning. A cause of death has yet to be established. Liam leaves a long-time partner, Caroline, and a daughter, Olive.

"He was a very talented journalist and a pleasure to have had working as sports editor on the Macclesfield and Wilmslow Express papers.

"Being a local lad he knew a great deal about the sporting scene in the area and communicated that knowledge in a wonderful fashion through the pages. We shared many afternoons together at Moss Rose watching the Silkmen play and he read football matches like an old pro.

"Beyond his professional capabilities, Liam was a good friend of everyone at the paper, a thoroughly decent man who never lost his sense of fun. It’s a very, very, sad loss."

Liam was a junior member of Poynton Cricket Club in the 1990s and an off-spinner for the first team in the 1994 season, aged 16.

Martin Saxon of Poynton Cricket Club said: "Liam came through the junior ranks at Poynton as part of an excellent crop of young players in the mid 1990s.

"As a player he was totally committed to Poynton for the time he was with us and put in some excellent performances. He was a great club man. All at the club extend their sincere condolences to Liam's family and friends." A spokesman for Bolton Wanderers said: "We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Liam Chronnell.

"Liam was a regular at the Reebok over the years and often attended pre-match press conferences at the club’s training ground.

"Everyone at the club would like to extend their condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time."

Colleagues at the Bolton News described him as a respected and highly-valued member of their sports team.

"He had been with the company for five years. Marc Iles, chief football reporter at the paper, said: "Liam and I travelled the country together covering football for the paper and on radio, putting the world to rights on the long drives up and down the motorways. We had some great fun and I’ll miss his sense of humour.

"He was a talented journalist, with such a keen sense for news. He had a way of cutting through everything and getting straight to the story.

"He loved his partner Caroline and his young daughter Olive to bits, and all our thoughts and prayers are with them both."

Ian Savage, editor of the Bolton News, said: "Liam’s death has been a tremendous shock to everyone in the company. He was a popular and talented journalist who will be sadly missed."